My household is as far from being vegetarian as coyotes love carrots. We try. Even my finicky shark. He says he doesn’t like meat, but he inhales tacos like they were the best food on the planet. Well actually they are, but that’s not what we are talking about here.

Growing up, I loved coming home after Greek school and walking through the door to the smell of my mom’s gemista. I can still recognize that smell anywhere. It’s very nostalgic for me and always makes my mouth water! My vegan version of this classic dish uses brown rice instead of white rice and mushrooms and zucchini as a healthy, low-fat substitute for the traditional beef. Brown rice is more nutritious, tends to hold up better, and adds a subtle, nutty flavor.

Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a medium saucepan set over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until translucent but not browned, about 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the brown rice and cook, stirring constantly, until lightly toasted, about 2 minutes. Slowly stir in the vegetable broth and 1/4 teaspoon of the salt, increase heat to medium-high, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer until all the liquid has been absorbed, about 45 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for about 10 minutes. Then remove lid, fluff the rice with a fork, and set aside.

Meanwhile, lightly oil a deep casserole dish large enough to hold all the peppers and tomatoes snugly so that they remain upright during baking.

Slice off and reserve the top stem ends of the bell peppers. Hollow out the peppers, removing the seeds and white pith with a small spoon or a grapefruit spoon and discarding. Slice off and reserve the top stem ends of the tomatoes. Gently squeeze the tomatoes to remove most of the seeds, then scoop the pulp into a small bowl, leaving a thin layer of tomato (about 1/4 inch) next to the skin. Stir the diluted tomato paste into the tomato pulp and set aside. Transfer the hollowed-out tomatoes and peppers to the prepared casserole dish. Set aside.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Heat 3 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms and sauté until the edges start to brown and they release their liquid, about 4 to 6 minutes. Add the zucchini slices and sauté until wilted and cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes more. Season with the remaining 2 teaspoons of salt and the pepper. Stir in the reserved tomato mixture and the cooked onion and rice. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 1 to 2 minutes, just to let the flavors come together. At this point, the mixture should be moist but not soupy. If it is too loose, simmer it a little longer to evaporate a bit more of the liquid, being careful not to overcook the rice. Turn off the heat and stir in the parsley and the mint. Taste and adjust seasonings, if necessary.

Generously stuff the tomatoes and bell peppers with the rice mixture. Replace the pepper and tomato tops. The stuffing will peek out a bit. Drizzle with the remaining 1/4 cup of olive oil and carefully pour the water into the bottom of the casserole. Bake, adding a little more water if necessary, for 1 to 11/4 hours or until the vegetables are tender and the tops are brown. The tomatoes and peppers should be soft enough to pierce easily with a fork. Serve immediately.

Debbie’s Tip: The classic version of this dish is made with lean ground beef. My vegan version makes a savory, light supper with no saturated fat. If you do want to try it the traditional way, replace the mushrooms and zucchini with 1 pound of lean ground beef or turkey.

If you missed my last giveaway for this cookbook or would like another chance to win, the publisher is letting me give away another copy here!

*This post was sponsored by Ben Bella Books. I received a complimentary cookbook from the sponsor in exchange for my unbiased review of the cookbook It’s All Greek to Me! No additional compensation was received by me. All opinions, text, images, and recipe are my own, except for cookbook images clearly noted. This post contains affiliate links.

About Famished Fish

Hi, I'm Saundra and this is my journey to creating delicious and appealing foods for my family-my famished fish and my finicky shark with autism. I am focused on healthy foods that deliver brain power full of vitamins and proteins. Not to mention delectable treats to entice the young and old alike. Follow me for mouth watering family and kid friendly meals and desserts.

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I'm a busy full time working mommy to 3 handsome boys and 1 beautiful baby girl, and wife to a loving husband, living a fulfilled life with food and fun. I am striving for a new healthier self and am working on keeping my family there too! Famished Fish, Finicky Shark is committed to fresh healthy foods and meals (some sinfully unhealthy too) for your family, with healthy fats and lots of love. Stay blogged on for nutritious and delectable recipes and ideas for both you AND your picky children! Read More…